The madness of closing coal-fired power stations is finally becoming clear. Reality has caught up with the political fantasy of net zero, and the consequences are now undeniable.

The Victorian Labor government, which once boasted of its aggressive transition away from coal, is now scrambling to keep the Yallourn coal power station open beyond its planned 2028 closure.

Clearly the electricity affordability and reliability emergency is trumping the so-called climate emergency.

This backflip follows last year’s decision to extend the life of the Loy Yang power station. In New South Wales, the Minns government has already been forced to extend the life of Eraring, Australia’s largest coal plant, at a potential cost to taxpayers of up to $450 million.

What happened to all the promises that renewables would be cheaper and reliable? The grim reality is that wind and solar are not replacing baseload power fast enough, and the grid is now at risk of instability, something Family First has been warning for years. Industry experts have warned that Victoria faces blackouts and power shortages, and the Australian Energy Market Operator has been forced to intervene. The Albanese government, meanwhile, remains wedded to a net-zero dream that is crumbling under its own contradictions. Energy Minister Chris Bowen insists Australia will double its renewable energy by 2030, but even his own department knows this won’t be enough to prevent a power shortfall.

Instead of admitting their mistakes, governments are using taxpayer dollars to prop up failing policies. Extending coal plants now means millions, even billions, in additional costs. It never had to be this way. Australia was once a country with some of the cheapest and most reliable electricity in the world. Net zero has turned that advantage into an energy crisis.

Both major parties remain committed to net zero and the Paris climate accords. At the upcoming election, voters must send a message: stop the madness. Family First is standing against reckless energy policies that put ideology before common sense. Vote Family First and help bring Australia back to energy sanity.

Trevor St Baker, a prominent figure in Australia’s energy sector, has called for nuclear power to be included in the country’s energy mix, labelling its current ban as “absurd.”

With Australia’s coal-fired power stations being run down under the misguided idea that windmills and solar farms could replace them, St Baker has warned against the premature closure of coal plants without a robust backup system in place.

Family First agrees.

St Baker’s investments span electric vehicle charging stations, battery systems, and rooftop solar, showcasing his commitment to diverse energy solutions.
However, he stressed that nuclear energy is essential to complement renewables and ensure energy stability.

“Ageing coal-fired power stations can’t be retired until there is an alternative,” he told the Courier Mail this week, highlighting the risks of a power system reliant on intermittent renewables without sufficient dispatchable generation.

The energy investor also backed the establishment of a government-owned national electricity commission to oversee the integration of nuclear power, drawing parallels with past commissions that delivered some of the world’s cheapest electricity.

“The current system is broken,” he said, calling for bipartisanship to drive effective energy policy. 

Crucially, St Baker highlighted that not all renewables are equal. He advocated for “behind the meter” renewable projects, such as rooftop solar on commercial premises, which avoid the need for disruptive transmission lines through farmland and forests.

His Energy DeCarbon initiative exemplifies this approach, focusing on self-sustaining solar projects that bypass reliance on government subsidies.

St Baker joins other industry leaders, including Beach Energy’s Brett Woods, in urging the adoption of nuclear energy. Their stance reflects growing concern over skyrocketing energy costs, unreliable supply, and a lack of coherent policy to address these issues. 

Family First echoes St Baker’s warning: closing coal-fired power stations without reliable baseload power like nuclear is hurting families and undermining Australia’s economy. It's time for common sense in energy policy.